Who is the all-time most known Swede?

[rothaer]

In my time, Karl XII was very well known due to the school program.

Otherwise it could be either Karlsson or the Little bro

Actually Karl XII is pretty known in Sweden as he was Sweden's little Napoleon (figuratively) and is connected to Sweden's era as a big power. But I presupposed that he is hardly commemorated outside of Sweden.

[rothaer]

Gustav Adolf, Sven Hedin (at least when your're old, a Nazi or been brrought up by old Nazis), but nowadays it's probably PewDiePie,

Oh yes, Sven Hedin. And if we stick to that time Zarah Leander is another candidate.

[rothaer]

I forgot about Nobel, he is likely number 1, and having the world's famous awards named after you helps. Astrid Lindgren, Olof Palme - I'd be surprised if even 5% of Westerners had heard or knew about them tbh, let alone the rest of the world. Also forgot Greta Thunberg, and Bjorn Borg is surely in the top 5 most famous Swedes, even 40 years later.

Ulrika Jonsson might be the most famous Swede in Britain

Never heard of Ulrika Jonsson but I looked her up, okay.

When I asked my wife about whether Björn Borg is well known and she mentally rolled her eyes and said she would not have known him without me earlier telling her, I thought that a smooth little punishment would be suitable as for her ignorance towards my lectures, so I hypocritically stated that she then likely is more familiar with Ingemar Stenmark and Tycho Brahe. She was not. But what do you think about them? Btw. Swedes themselves are - to my perception exaggeratedly - into Raul Wallenberg. And somewhat into "Heliga Birgitta" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridget_of_Sweden in spite of that all are Protestants. Any remarks on these folks as for being known or not in the "Anglo" world?

[Rumata]

Actually Karl XII is pretty known in Sweden as he was Sweden's little Napoleon (figuratively) and is connected to Sweden's era as a big power. But I presupposed that he is hardly commemorated outside of Sweden.

His name was written in our history textbooks, that's why we know it. Much later, I knew that he had a particular personality too. A commander of warrior type. Not hiding behind his army, as later commanders often did, particularly the modern ones.

[Rumata]

Astrid Lindgren is well known here too. Her books been reprinted many times.
Selma Lagerlöf somewhat less.
Olof Palme was talked about in the late USSR.

[rothaer]

His name was written in our history textbooks, that's why we know it. Much later, I knew that he had a particular personality too. A commander of warrior type. Not hiding behind his army, as later commanders often did, particularly the modern ones.

This is also how he died. At Halden (Norwegian-Swedish border region) he went into an Artyomovsk-like situation and got a bullet through his head.

[Rumata]

This is also how he died. At Halden (Norwegian-Swedish border region) he went into an Artyomovsk-like situation and got a bullet through his head.

In this strange time if a commander comes to Artyomovsk, the enemy would probably stop the fire. This is my opinion based on previous cases of front line visits etc.

[nittionia]

I was featured "Swedish export" for Björn Borg. I knew him for that brand, not really for tennis

[Hulu]

Nils Holgersson

Or Pippi Longstocking

[Creoda]

Never heard of Ulrika Jonsson but I looked her up, okay.

When I asked my wife about whether Björn Borg is well known and she mentally rolled her eyes and said she would not have known him without me earlier telling her, I thought that a smooth little punishment would be suitable as for her ignorance towards my lectures, so I hypocritically stated that she then likely is more familiar with Ingemar Stenmark and Tycho Brahe. She was not. But what do you think about them? Btw. Swedes themselves are - to my perception exaggeratedly - into Raul Wallenberg. And somewhat into "Heliga Birgitta" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bridget_of_Sweden in spite of that all are Protestants. Any remarks on these folks as for being known or not in the "Anglo" world?

Don't want to put myself as a yardstick for how well these people are known in the English-speaking world, but will do so anyway. I'd never heard of Ingemar Stenmark, but winter sports are not big in the Anglosphere. I only know Tycho Brahe as an early astronomer, but most people will never have heard of him. Mention of Bridget of Sweden is likely to get vacant looks from anyone who isn't a religious scholar. Raoul Wallenberg might be somewhat known thanks to constant Holocaust 'education', though I would venture Count Folke Bernadotte would be better known due to his post-war UN activities. On the subject of the UN, I remember my mum always used to mention Dag Hammarskjold, due to the dramatic and controversial circumstances of his death.

Probably the most important Swede in the history of Australia and New Zealand is Daniel Solander, though he is sadly not even well-known here. He was a botanist on the HMS Endeavour that 'discovered' New Zealand and Australia; he together with the much more famous Joseph Banks first recorded and classified much of the flora and fauna of Australasia.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daniel_Solander